# Movies you've seen recently (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [August 27, 2024, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288 "2024-08-27T05:10:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 40
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/781 "2024-12-02T13:13:36Z")
Not a movie, but a TV special. I was rooting through my DVD collection for something I hadn’t seen (otherwise I’d have put on something my wife has already seen too many times) and came across the Stephen Colbert Christmas Special, **A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All** , which neither Pepper Mill nor I could recall getting (it turned out our daughter MillCal had given it to us). So we put it on. A very weird parody of Christmas specials, with Elvis Costello in a large but very passive part, Toby Keith singing an aggressively active Christmas song, Jon Stewart in a small part, Willie Nelson as the Fourth Wise Man (who brings the Gift of Weed), John Legend as a Forest Ranger, Feist as a Christmas Angel, and George Wendt unrecognizable under the beard as Santa Claus. Cheesy in the extreme, but apparently the profits all went to the Feeding America Charity. Also watched **The Maltese Falcon** , an episode of the Jody Whittaker Doctor Who I hadn’t seen, and part of **It Came from Outer Space** (in 3D – I’ve got the glasses). ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/782 "2024-12-02T15:28:59Z")
_Lone Survivor_ 2013 I think it’s a very good movie. The bloody battle scenes are difficult to watch. It’s different with fictional characters. It’s a grim reminder that even special forces can be put into situations that can and will go horribly wrong. I read Luttrell’s book and found the chapters on his SEAL training very interesting. He is a very big guy and that worked against him in the mountaineering courses. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/783 "2024-12-02T16:44:34Z")
_Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley_ – Netflix doc on the events leading to his 1968 “comeback” special. It was a nice bookend to watching Beatles '64 earlier. I didn’t realize he hadn’t performed a live show for 7 years before the TV special. The one thing I really didn’t like was one particular talking head, Wright Thompson, who looked like Louis CK wearing a branded ball cap. I wanted to punch his face every time it came on screen. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/784 "2024-12-02T17:19:48Z")
**Dear Santa** (Prime) Rotten Tomatoes lists 37% from critics and 44% from fans and that sounds right. A bare bones Jack Black vehicle for him to do his thing and it barely succeeded in crossing that low threshold, but my children enjoyed it. I had a delightful festive evening with my family and while this film sucked ass I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit Dear Santa was at least a factor in creating the right mood. Recommended for background noise at your family gatherings this Xmas Season when you’re done with Yule Log. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/785 "2024-12-02T18:00:46Z")
We watched _ **Aloha** _ (2015), on Netflix. It’s supposedly a romantic comedy, but it was actually a jumbled mess of genres and themes. The movie never really settled on what it wanted to be. There was some comedy, and some romance, and some drama, and some thriller, and some spy movie scenes. Very easy to see why the movie did terrible at the box office. The only thing that makes the movie watchable at all is that the acting is quite good, especially given the script and lack of overall direction. If I’m ever bored, I might watch again, just to appreciate the acting without being burdened with trying to discern whatever is going on. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/786 "2024-12-02T18:02:48Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > _Interstellar_ 2014 Matthew McConaughey > > I liked most of it. The last 45 minutes gets extremely chaotic. It’s science fiction but this alternative reality at the end is hard to swallow. > > Matthew’s character realizes the horrific ending for humanity happens in the past and can’t be reversed. Yet some morse code sent to the second hand of a watch can miraculously allow the survivors to relocate on space stations. > It’s a hopeful message that himanity can survive. I don’t see how the ending makes any sense. New scientific knowledge isn’t that usesful if the highly trained scientists are dead. You need a massive technological society to build those space stations. I _highly_ recommend you watch this again. This is one of those movies that requires (at least) 2 viewings to “get”. I remember being totally lost the first time I watched it - even the time/scene flips threw me. But then when I saw it a second time, it all made sense. And it is now one my favorite sci-fi movies (right up there with “The Martian”). ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/787 "2024-12-02T19:03:30Z")
I saw potential in Interstellar. I’ll give it another viewing. I think it’s on Paramount+. The beginning is very good. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/788 "2024-12-02T19:39:40Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > We watched _ **Aloha** _ (2015), on Netflix. It’s supposedly a romantic comedy, but it was actually a jumbled mess of genres and themes. The movie never really settled on what it wanted to be. There was some comedy, and some romance, and some drama, and some thriller, and some spy movie scenes. Very easy to see why the movie did terrible at the box office. No, that was not great, but it was written and directed by Cameron Crowe so I was hopeful when I originally saw it. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/789 "2024-12-03T07:36:44Z")
Well, call me frivolous or simple-minded, but feeling the need for cheefulness these days I continue to scour my collection for light-hearted fare and I’m currently re-watching the “Carry On” movies which were made throughout the 50s and 70s (a total of 31 in all). Yes, they’re extremely silly and have no pretense of any kind of sophistication, but except for a few duds most of them are simple fun. Some may consider some of the themes and innuendoes sexist and dated, but my attitude is to consider the times in which they were made, and then get some popcorn and enjoy the show. I’ve binge-watched at least half a dozen so far, but here I especially want to call out **Carry On Abroad** (1972) as the best and most cheerfully light-hearted of the whole lot. A tour group of British vacationers arrive for a holiday at a hotel in Spain that turns out to be unfinished (only four stories left to build!) and of course has no staff except for the owner, his layabout son, and his bad-tempered wife trying to be the hotel cook in a defective kitchen. All the usual cast is great as always, but Peter Butterworth steals the show. He plays the harried hotel owner desperately trying to make up for the lack of staff by posing simultaneously as the porter, desk clerk, manager, and head waiter, all of them with the same charmingly accented broken English. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/790 "2024-12-04T13:07:51Z")
Last night I rewatched **Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders**. This wasn’t available on DVD until very recently. My copy is one I taped from a local station back in 1986 and transferred to DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/791 "2024-12-04T13:30:18Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Curtis. He _did_ make Blackadder, though. He has a long careers of highs and lows, some of which bear worthiness for me to not dismiss him, Bads: Four Weddings and a Funeral, Nottinghill, Love Actually (spit), Ok’s: Bridgette Jones movies, Mr Bean, The boat that rocked, War Horse, The vicar of Dibbley. Good: The Tall Guy, Blackadders (always preferred number 1, and Ben Elton ruined the series), About time (though the weird bit about the baby still haunts me and never really was explored), Yesterday, Not the nine oclock news, Spitting Image (though not much compared to a lot of other greats of that time). Even the bads and oks will get their fans who love them though. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/792 "2024-12-04T13:32:02Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > The film was both dull and a mess. Essentially a series of formative moments in young Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life that colored his conviction that the Nazis are bad and Christians should lead the resistance. It also took the time to tell us racism is bad. I am certain the script was written in crayon. To be fair you really need to remind the christians that racism is bad on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/793 "2024-12-04T13:43:31Z")
Watched **Alien: Romulus**. It was probably one of the better Alien movies, but also immediately forgettable IMHO. Too many forced callbacks to the other films (including a digitally recreated Ian Holm playing a different “Hyperdyne Systems 120-A2” model (still a bit twitchy). ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/794 "2024-12-04T23:52:05Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > He has a long careers of highs and lows, some of which bear worthiness for me to not dismiss him, > > Bads: Four Weddings and a Funeral, Nottinghill, Love Actually (spit), > > Ok’s: Bridgette Jones movies, Mr Bean, The boat that rocked, War Horse, The vicar of Dibbley. > > Good: The Tall Guy, Blackadders (always preferred number 1, and Ben Elton ruined the series), About time (though the weird bit about the baby still haunts me and never really was explored), Yesterday, Not the nine oclock news, Spitting Image (though not much compared to a lot of other greats of that time). > > Even the bads and oks will get their fans who love them though. I mostly agree with you (_hate_ Love Actually). I’d rate the Bridget Jones movies in between the “bad” and “Ok” categories. Well, done, but so excruciatly super thin, and Renee Zellweger began annoying me halfway through the first one. I’ve seen less than half your “good” category. Agree with you about the baby in _About Time,_ but what I liked most about the movie was the house in Cornwall. If I ever see the movie come up while I’m surfing I’ll watch the house bits and fantasize about how I’d decorate it if I lived there. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/795 "2024-12-05T00:01:43Z")
_Dancing Daughters_ 1928 with Joan Crawford and Anita Paige. It was right on the cusp of the talkie era and was a bit of a hybrid. There was a sound track with maybe a total of five words, but also with sound effects (like ringing telephones, ping pong balls bouncing, rain against the windows). It was Crawford’s first featured starring role. She did a good job, but ultimately the movie was stolen by Anita Paige – Crawford’s rival in the story. It had decent pacing, some good quippy title cards, and good acting. I love Art Deco designs, and the sets were striking. But the fashions the women wore were fabulous. Several looked like copies of haute couture from famous courturiers of the day. I’d seen clips of Crawford’s dancing from the silent era in the past, and this movie didn’t do anything to change my opinion. She’s a terrible, clunky dancer. She has no physical grace at all. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/796 "2024-12-05T00:54:47Z")
To be honest, I _like_ Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and Love Actually. And yes, Love Actually has its issues, particularly the unequal level of some of the relationships but some is cute. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/797 "2024-12-05T01:01:18Z")
**Speak No Evil (USA)** Recommended. Have you seen the original? You should. This one is mainly the same for the first 75% and then COMPLETELY changes the last quarter or so. I’m not sure I really approve of the changes, either, but at the same time I kind of don’t particularly disapprove, either. This was pretty effective and is helped by James McAvoy being one of our very best actors in film. He sells his role completely. A couple makes new friends while on vacation and they share some interesting experiences. Go in blind otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/798 "2024-12-05T01:30:52Z")
**The Visit** Recommended. Cute movie from M. Night and honestly, I don’t how I missed this one. Simple plot about two kids visiting their grandparents and despite coming from M. Night, I was actually pulled in and did not see the plot twists, etc. as they came. I enjoyed it a lot and Night shows again he can direct children pretty well…except they are saying his corny dialogue, which always sounds a bit off. I liked it. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/799 "2024-12-05T01:48:09Z")
I liked _Four Weddings_ apart from Andie McDowell, and hated _Yesterday_. And The Vicar of Dibley is brilliant. Otherwise I’ll agree with your list. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/800 "2024-12-05T02:00:53Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > **The Visit** > > Recommended. > > Cute movie from M. Night and honestly, I don’t how I missed this one. Simple plot about two kids visiting their grandparents and despite coming from M. Night, I was actually pulled in and did not see the plot twists, etc. as they came. I enjoyed it a lot and Night shows again he can direct children pretty well…except they are saying his corny dialogue, which always sounds a bit off. > > I liked it. Watched this with my daughter as part of our horror watching years, and we quite enjoyed it. Some parts are genuinely funny, in a horrifying way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288.md?page=39) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288.md?page=41)